Chasing a culinary dream!!

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As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a gangster after my college days. Oops, sorry, always wanted to be a chef. To me, being a chef was better than being anything else in the world. I was warned that it would be difficult, that it was a very hard work with long hours and so on. That it was stressful and tiring. I still remember one of my head chefs during my training told me I would never ever manage to survive in this work and that I was useless.

I did it. I travelled around the world in cruise ships; I lived in a country I always wanted to go – Cyprus. I’ve seen different kind of people, of different social classes and learnt different kinds of cuisines. I had friends from all over the world. I worked in reputed hotels and restaurants with renowned chefs.

I’m working as a chef since I’m 22 (with few years break for more studies), and I don’t regret my choice. Never would I wish my children to work in a kitchen. I would encourage them to cook at home, to like it, to be really good for their family, friends, I would teach them how to enjoy food, how to choose quality over quantity, how to appreciate great food, good products, nice wine and beers, how to appreciate real whiskey. In fact, I would teach them how to appreciate the good things in life.

But I would never push them to choose my job. Too many sacrifices…. My road was long and treacherous. Take these with a little sense of humour.

Not everything is that bad. I love my job. I love to cook for others; I love to create new dishes, new menu, creative stuffs and much more. I loved the atmosphere in a kitchen, the fun with the waiting staff, the night out with everybody, drinking beers and getting drunk, I loved the stress during a service. But now, I’m getting a little too old, I like to be quiet….you enjoy it with a laugh!!!

Your hands will be continuously cut, burned, skinned. An open book about your life in a kitchen

Your back will be painful all your life, a good excuse for rest of your life

You will always be tired

If you had friends, you will lose them. You will never manage any more to meet them for a night out or a birthday party. Yes, it’s right, you will be working during the weekends, bank holidays, Xmas, Easter, Valentine’s day… Just name it, and you’re sure work that day

You will be so cranky, all the time, and you will have constant mood swings

You will spend most of your life in a tiny room, noisy, smelly, horribly hot, greasy, sticky, with a bunch of people who will be your only social relationship in your life

You will work a lot, really a lot, so much that you will wonder if it’s legal.

Your social life will be inexistent; you will only know your team mates. You will work with them, go out with them, and drink with them. They will know you better than your friends or your wife do

You will hardly meet new people

You will lose your social skills

You will addicted to one of the following: alcohol, drugs, cigarettes, even red bull

The only time of the day you will be able to sit down will be in the toilets

Your working days will be longer than any of the working days of your normal friends

You will become either skinny, either fat

You will eat all the time, at any hour of the day

You will always be under pressure, you will be anxious, stressed

You will always be asked to constantly give 110%( or may be a bit more)

You will make mistake, but you can’t. In case you made one, there is always a satellite watching around you.

You will never be sick, ever. They never give you a chance.

You will be expected to place your work before your social life, your partner, friends and children. Which in fact won’t be that difficult because you already don’t have a social life

Anybody with more responsibilities than you is God, don’t argue with them

The better the restaurant, the longer the hours…..( some times I have to think twice to recollect my house telephone number and even my street address)

If you are a woman, beware, it’s a man world. You will have to work much harder and better than men.

Nobody around you will ever understand how difficult being a chef is. It looks so easy and lovely on TV.

Your partner will not understand you, your state of mind, or why you always work. If you find someone who does understand and accept. Keep her! Don’t drop her!

The only Xmas you will have off in 10 years, your family will ask you to cook for them

And when you will eat with them, or with friends, they will stare at you waiting for your opinion on the dish that was just served

Everybody in your entourage will expect you to have in your brain all the recipes, or find you an easy person to blame at

If beside all these points, you still want to be a chef. Go for it, don’t look back, persevere, don’t give up. It’s worth it big time. Because after all these years of hard work, working countless hours, I would not change it if I had to go back to the past. I don’t regret anything because at the end of the day, it’s still a good damn job.

Rafeeq one of my friends in Hotel Management College has taught me food arts, and encouraged me into cheffing. “Rafeeq I would blame you for all this disastrous life in me.” And Paul bright one of my friend who encouraged me in writing this food blog. Once again thanks to these guys. Rafeeq if you read this post anywhere please ping me. I have more stories to tell you in personal (never met him after those college days). And the above carving is the first carving Rafeeq taught me in that college. Keeping in hope to be a Jamie Oliver or a Vikas Khanna one day, the journey continues….

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39 thoughts on “Chasing a culinary dream!!”

I’m a young woman aspiring to be a chef. The first kitchen I worked in was 3 women (including myself) and a male in charge. It was the funniest experience because he felt so awkward telling us what to do when at home, his wife told him what to do. The second job I went for, I was the only woman so they kept a close eye on me to make sure I never got harassed. Little did they realize, I had a sharp attitude and didn’t take any bs from anyone. I was quickly respected and they showed me the respect they showed the boss. It’s not an easy industry by any means but man do I love it. there is no greater reward than hearing someone say they love your food.

Dear Red chef, welcome aboard!! Way long to go😂 Always remember that you’re a new un-greased cog in an otherwise well-oiled machine. You will find a way to fit into the mechanism in the most seamless way possible and you`ll quickly become valuable. Don’t worry, you just float with the wave they will look after you😄😂

Hi Sumith,
I love what you have so expressively written here. The true life of a chef, completely unglamorous, unlike the unrealistic portrayal of the media. I love that despite all of this, you love your choice and have no regrets… A testament to your passion. Your website has such an honest and raw feel to it, I very much look forward to these insights into your life as a chef.

Heart touching writing, I would surely keep your words in my mind while raising my son. How to make them to appreciate things and to let them do what they are inclined to. 🙂 I am so tempted to browse every single post of your’s.

Haha I love your food carvings and I know how hard being a chef is, my brother studied at catering college. But to have it itemised like that…It is a wonder anyone makes it their profession amd even more astonshing that they manage to combine it with having a family.

I always wanted to be a chef but instead went into engineering 😀 It was interesting indeed to know about the pros and cons of this profession…. I hope after all the hard work you get to spend some good quality time with your family and kids 🙂

Couldn’t agree less with all of the above. That’s why I switched to freelance private chef, though this is not so easy either, but it’s still better on many levels. I too don’t recommend becoming a professional chef to anybody who hesitates about it. If anyone is not 100% sure, then it’s best they do not enter this profession in the first place.

I totally agrees with you Ronit. The most exhausting, nerve-wracking and tiring thing you have already covered. If your future plans goes well it will be the most satisfying and rewarding part of your life – much like raising children.